Container and support therefor



Dec. 18, 1962 T. J. DEsBoxs 3,069,059

CONTAINER AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR THEODORE J. DESBOS Dec. 18, 1962 1210555015 3,069,059

CONTAINER AND SUPPORT THEREFOR THEODOE J. DESOIS BY M4 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent Oiiiice 3,069,059 vPatented Dec. 18, 1962 This inventionrelates to containers and is particularly concerned with containershaving pallets or pallet-like supporting portions associated therewith.

Because of the high cost of the labor involved, manual handling ofshipping containers is now minimized as much as possible. When feasible,products are shipped in bulk. However, smaller packages must often beused, and if possible in such cases the containers such as bags,cartons, and the like are placed at the time of shipping or before on apallet. Ideally, the containers are not thereafter handled individuallyagain until removed from the pallet by the consignee. The pallets usedare usually designed to be picked up, transported, and in some casesstacked by fork-lift trucks. Y

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping containerhaving a pallet or pallet-like supporting portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping container ofthe character described which may be conveniently used for carryinglarge objects, a plurality of small objects or bulk material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging assembly whichis easily constructed and assembled and requires comparatively littlespace in storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter described which may be discarded and easily disposed of afteruse but which may, if desired, be collapsed for storage and reuse.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shippinglcontainer of the character described which is inexpensive to manufactureand use. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE l is a plan View of a blank of corrugated board, fiber board orsimilar material adapted to be assembled into a container according tothe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a shipping containerformed from the blank illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of a modified formof container according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation, with a corner broken away, of thecontainer illustrated in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of a con tainer having aseparable pallet portion.

Referring to FIGURE 1 in which the dashed lines represent folding scoresit will be seen that in the generally preferred form the blank ofcorrugated board, paperboard, cardboard, or the like (which hereinafterwill be generically referred to as fiberboard) is rectangular. The blankis essentially divided by the pairs of score lines 11, 11 and 12, 12into 7 panels. The central panel 14Aforms the bottom of the containerand the panels 15, 16 and 17 formrthe ends and sides. Since the scorelines 11 are parallel and each is normal to both of the score lines 12,

following description it will be understood that each of the panels 15,16 and 17 is a mirror image of the other panel bearing the samereference character and that in describing the location, positioning,movement or the like of one, the other is included.

Between the panels 16 and 17 at each side of the blank l a flap 19 isformed by spaced slits 2t) and 21 that extend inwardly from the sideedges of the blank. At their outer ends the slits 20 and 21 are closertogether than at their inner ends, forming jogs 22 in the edges of theflap and constituting the outer portion of the ap a tongue 23. Betweenthe jogs 22 and the side edges of the blank the panels 16 and 17 projectinwardly to form tabs 25 and 26, respectively. Score lines 30, 31 and32, parallel to the lines 12, are formed in each of the ilaps 19. A pairof longitudinally spaced slots 34 is provided in the panel 14 to receivethe tongues 23 of the aps 19.

In FIGURES 2 and 4 there is shown a shipping container according to theinvention and formed from a blank such as that of FIGURE 1. The severalpanels and the like are identified by the same reference characters asin FIGURE 1. It will be seen that the panel 14 constitutes the bottom ofthe container and the panels 15 the ends thereof, the latter being bentupwardly on the score lines 11. The sides of the container are formed bythe panels 16 and 17 which are bent on the score lines 12 intooverlapping position. 'Ihey may be secured together by stapling or by asuitable adhesive. The tabs 25 and 26 are also bent up on the outerportions of the score lines 11 and rest on the panel 14 to which theymay be stapled or otherwise fastened.

As best shown in FIGURE 4 the container is supported along each side byloop portions 36 formed by bending the aps 19 o n the score lines 30, 31and 32 and passing the end tongues 23 through the slots 34 in the basepanel 14. The tongues 23 extend outwardly on the base panel over thetabs 25 and 26 substantially to the respective side edges of panel 14and may be held in place by a load in the container. Within each of theloop portions 36 there are provided a pair of laterally spacedlongitudinal supporting blocks 3S. rl`he blocks 38 preferably extend tofull length of the loop portions and are the same height as the insideheight of the loop portion below the base panel 14, thereby supportingthe load and maintaining the loops open. The tongue portions 23 of eachof the aps 19 form bridges across the supporting blocks within therespective loops. It is preferred to form the blocks 38 of adhesivelyjoined strips of iberboard. However, any other suitable material, forexample, wood, may be employed. The spaced loops are, of course,suitable and intended for receiving the fork of a fork-lift truck.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that containersaccording to the invention may be easily assembled by merely foldingalong the score lines, fastening together the panels 16 and 17 at thesides, securing the tabs 25 and 26 to the bottom, folding back the aps1'9 along the score lines 30, 31 and 32 and inserting supporting blocksin the loops formed when the tongues 23 are passed through the slots 34.

The container thus formed is suitable for carrying large objects. Where,however, small objects or bulk materials are to be carried the containermay be provided with a liner of suitable character to prevent leakage.Alternatively, the small objects or bulk material may be packaged in oneor a plurality of boxes or bags which may be loaded into the container.The container may be reinforced by one or more bands 40 of steel,reinforced plastic tape, or the like extending around its perimeter.

If desiredLa lid (not shown) may be provided for a container accordingto the invention. Such a lid may be secured by strapping or in othersuitable fashion. In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGURE3 the es container is provided with top flaps forming a cover. Inproducing this modification a blank is provided in which the panels 15,16 and 17 forming the ends and sides of the load receiving portion arelarger, extending outwardly from the score lines 1l, 11 a greaterdistance, the exact distance being determined by the size of the topflaps desired. Score lines (not shown) are provided to facilitatebending over the extra Width of the panels and four slits (not shown)are provided to separate the panels 1S from panels 16 and 17,respectively, at their outer portions to permit independent folding ofthe flaps at the ends and sides. The overlapping portions of panels 16and 17 which form the flaps 42 are preferably secured together with asuitable adhesive. After the container is formed as described above, thetops of the joined panels 16 and 17 on each side of the container arebent inwardly to form side flaps 42 and the tops of the panels fd arebent inwardly to form end flaps 43 the ends of which may be abutting asshown. The top aps 42 and 43 may be stapled together or adhesivelyjoined as desired. i

Containers constructed in accordance with the present invention areconvenient and economical. As pointed out above, they are quickly andeasily assembled and before assembly they occupy a minimum of space.They may be easily picked up and carried by fork-lift trucks. Since theyare light in weight, particularly if made of corrugated paperboard,shipping charges are reduced. Further, of course, no separate pallet isnecessary. Although containers according to the invention are quitedurable and in many cases are reusable, their inexpensive constructionpermits them to be discarded after a single use where the expense ofreturn shipping is not warranted.

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5. Herethe load-receiving portion of the container device is separable from thesupporting portion. The load-receiving portion may, as shown, be anordinary box or carton 50 formed of corrugated board but modified toprovide spaced slots 51 through the bottom thereof through which thetongues 52 of a pallet like that disclosed in applicants copendingapplication Serial No. 796,360, tiled March 2, 1959, now Patent No.2,970,797, may pass. As illustrated, the box 5t) comprises sides 53, topflaps 54 and 55, and bottom flaps 56 and 57. The pallet comprises aplatform 60 and a pair of laterally spaced folded loops 61, eachenclosing spaced supporting blocks 62 and having its end tongue 52extending through a slot 63 in the platform and through registeringslots 51 in the carton bottom. The ends of the tongues are bentoutwardly within the box or carton and extexrl substantially to therespective adjacent side edges of the pallet u whereby to bridge thesupporting blocks 62 within the respective loops. Although in FIGURE 5,as in the other figures also, the thickness of the panels and the likeis exaggerated, it will be necessary for the inner vertical panels 65 ofthe loops to be wider than the outer panels thereof because of theadditional layers of material through which they must pass.

It will be understood that in the modified form of the inventionillustrated in FIGURE 5 the pallet portion may be of any desired size.The dimensions of the carton or box 50 may also be varied, it beingpossible for the box to overhang the edges of the pallet if desired.Similarly, the unitary containers illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 may also bemade in various sizes as required for specific uses.

As mentioned above, shipping containers according to the invention asshown in FIGURES 1-4 may be constructed of corrugated board or otherfiberboard. Corrugated board is usually preferred because of itscombination of strength and lightness. In the embodiment shown in FGURE5 the pallet portion is preferably formed from corrugated board whilethe load-receiving box portion may be of any desired and suitablematerial. In some cases, for example, boxes of wood or metal will bemost useful while in other cases fiberboard will be satisfactory. Wheredesired or necessary suitable reinforcing means may be employed withcontainers according to the invention either for the load-receivingportion or the supporting portion. Thus, for example, the corners may bebraced, additional support may be provided under the base of theload-receiving portion, or one or more panels or the like may bestrengthened or stitfened by facings. Where iberboard is used it may, ifdesired, be coated or impregnated for imparting resistance to wear orwater and/ or for strengthening.

Since various other modifications and changes may be u made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention,

it is intended that the invention shall not be construed narrowly.Rather it is desired that it shall be interpreted as broadly aspermitted by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container of tiberboard adapted for use with fork lift trucks whichcomprises: a rectangular load-receiving portion comprising a base andsides integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, and a pair oflaterally spaced supporting and lifting loops beneath said loadrcceivingportion and extending along opposite sides thereof, a pair of supportingblocks extending longitudinally Within each of said loops, said blocksbeing laterally spaced wi.hin each of said loops whereby to maintainsaid loops open and to provide centrally within said loops longitudinalpassages for reception of the fork of a fork lift truck, each of saidloops being formed of a flap folded rectangularly beneath said base andhaving a tongue portion extending upwardly through said base to theupper face thereof and extending outwardly on said base substantially tothe respective adjacent side edge thereof, thereby to form a bridgeacross said supporting blocks within said loop.

2. A container as set forth in claim l in which said loops are integralwith said base.

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which at least one of saidsides is provided with a tab bent inwardly and secured to said base.

4. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which said sides compriseportions adapted to be folded over to form a cover for saidload-receiving portion.

5. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which said sides comprisepanels integral with said base and bent upwardly therefrom and two ofsaid sides are formed by overlapping of a pair of said panels.

6. A container as set forth in claim 5 in which each of said overlappingpanels is provided with a tab bent inwardly at the bottom thereof andsecured to said base.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,142,142 Newsom Jan. 3, 1939 2,494,730 Thursby Jan. 17, 1950 2,692,747Strauss Oct. 26, 1954 2,798,685 Mooney July 9, 1957 2,902,199 BretonSept. l, 1959

